No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section prohibits, notwithstanding existing law, the issuance of any license, permit, or other authorization for (1) exploration or commercial recovery on the deep seabed under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (30 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.)—which governs U.S. activities beyond any nation's Continental Shelf to recover hard mineral resources (i.e., seabed nodules containing manganese and other metals such as nickel, copper, and cobalt)—and (2) exploration, development, or production of hardrock minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.), except for scientific research activities. (Thus, no new deep seabed mining licenses or OCS hardrock authorizations may be issued.) This section further directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine within 90 days of enactment for a comprehensive study of environmental impacts from such mining activities—including on deep seabed and OCS ecosystems, water columns, seamounts, hydrothermal vents, species recovery potential, carbon sequestration, fisheries, sediment plumes, greenhouse gas emissions, and mineral alternatives such as recycling and substitutes—and to submit a report on the study's findings to the appropriate congressional committees (i.e., House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Natural Resources).